SermonStudio

Scripture Reference
"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?"
-- Matthew 21:28-31a

Materials Needed
Miniature candy bars, one per child
Full-sized candy bar
Card stock printed with scripture reference and verses
Assistant

Telling The Story
(Speaker approaches children and calls to Assistant.)

Speaker: Hey, Assistant, stand right here. I'm going to give you a present.

(Speaker ignores Assistant and comments to the children about the weather, a current event in the news, a new outfit someone is wearing, and so on.)

Assistant: Excuse me! You told me to stand here so you could give me a present.

Speaker: I know. Don't worry. I'm going to give you something nice.

(Speaker returns attention to the children and again comments on the weather, a current event in the news, a new outfit someone is wearing, as before.)

Assistant: Excuse me, again, but I'm still waiting.

Speaker: I said I was going to give you something nice. Why are you upset?

(Speaker turns attention to the children and continues.)

What's happening here? I said one thing, but I did something else. My words and my actions didn't match.

There's a story like that in the Bible. Jesus told it in Matthew 21:28-31a. (Show card stock printed with reference.) "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?"

The father probably was disappointed in both of his sons. One son said he wouldn't do what his father asked, and the other said he would, but he didn't. Neither's actions matched his words, but one son finally did what his father asked him to do. In the end, the actions of both sons were stronger than their words.

When what you say and what you do don't match, people react in different ways. Some people will remember whichever makes you look worse. Many people, however, will remember what you do instead of what you say.

What did I do today? My words didn't match my actions, and because of that, I might have hurt or embarrassed (Assistant). (Assistant) might decide that I can't be trusted. When my words and my actions don't match, I have to live with the consequences of how I make other people feel and what I might be teaching them.

Now, I'm not really so mean. (Assistant), you were a good helper today and you waited very patiently. Here is your candy bar. Thank you for helping me. Let's pray and ask God to help us remember that people are watching us and that we're teaching them about us and about God by what we say and do.

Prayer
Dear Lord,

Thank you for this beautiful day and for loving us so much. Please help us to remember that other people may be looking to us to teach them about you. Help us to remember that when our words and our actions don't match, we can hurt other people or discourage them from seeing you. Please also help us, Lord, to be careful what we say and to be careful that what we do matches our words. Thank you for all of the help and protection you give.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Give each child a miniature candy bar after the prayer.